It seems that car owners and enthusiasts, whatever the situation, always cop it, whether it is to do with VRT costs, local warden fines, car parking fees, the ever increasing cost of fuel, the increasing cost of repairs, maintenance and spare parts, the high insurance premiums, and so much more. Owning and keeping a car is becoming a big expense and even a luxury.

A new car registration tax system is to be introduced in order to do away with the high fees involved in importing a second hand vehicle.

For the government to make good on lost income, the new system will be based on the polluter pays principle. This means that owners of old cars will be paying a higher annual road licence fee, due to the exhaust emissions. Possibly the fee will be higher than the actual value of the car itself, when considering the emissions of cars that are over 20 years old.

I hope that a fair deal will be found for all car owners, without forcing anyone to sell his car. It would be a very positive step if the ADT charged half the licence fee for cars manufactured before 1971. If these are well maintained they could add value to Malta's heritage. In the UK, old cars are exempt from paying road licence fees, let alone from paying additional amounts and a penalty due to age. If an engine is maintained properly its emissions could be well within the normal limits.

Diesel cars are known to emit more fumes from their exhaust, so the polluter pay principle must be exercised with caution if the minimum threshold limit is exceeded.

On the other hand, cars are not the only source of pollution. The power station, factories and fireworks all contribute to greenhouse gases and to the generation of toxic emissions including the carcinogenic sulphur dioxide. We all need to understand that preventing further damage to the environment is important, to stop the negative effects of severe weather conditions, extreme heat, cold, floods and so on.

And when are motorists going to benefit from liberalisation of the fuels market in Malta?

This might be an opportunity to provide cleaner and more environmentally-friendly fuels than the traditional fossil fuels, and possibly cheaper than the current prices by being even more efficient for the engine itself and more economical in the long run.